WASHINGTON – The issue of same-sex “marriage” provokes strong emotions and actions on both sides of the debate with little common ground seemingly to be found. But on Thursday the beginning of an unlikely understanding appeared to emerge at a panel discussion that included Christian conservatives and a gay activist.
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(Photo: The Christian Post)Alliance Defense Fund Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull speaks at the Family Research Council's discussion on the California same-sex ''marriage'' event as FRC president Tony Perkins sits next to him on Thursday, July 10, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
All five panelists at the Family Research Council event, with the exception of the gay activist, were against California's ruling to legalize same-sex “marriage.” At the end of the discussion, no one had changed their position although both sides felt they could better understand the issue from the other’s point of view.
On the traditional marriage side, some panelists listed legal problems, including infringement on religious liberty, which resulted from California’s recent ruling that legalized same-sex “marriage.”
Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull of the Alliance Defense Fund gave examples of California churches that have been sued for refusing to perform same-sex weddings. He also questioned how California’s same-sex “marriage” ruling will affect state clerks that do not want to grant marriage licenses to homosexual couples because of their religious beliefs.
“What is the problem with the California same-sex ‘marriage’ case?” Bull asked. “There are lots of problems with it that are huge and profound.
“One of them is what radical, homosexual-activists will do with the new institution of same-sex ‘marriage’ and use it as a battering ram across America to blast open new areas that ultimately diminish the rights of Christians to express their faith in their lives and how they live.”
Bull, who has defended the religious freedom of many Christians in gay rights cases, contends that in the end a person’s faith will only be a “personalized, individualized” faith and that you can “think about it but you can’t even talk about it” if the homosexual agenda continues to spread.
Yet he softened after hearing Professor Chai R. Feldblum of Georgetown University Law Center speak about the issue from the other perspective. He had expressed eagerness to talk more with the gay activist after hearing her moderate tone.
Feldblum, who described herself as a practicing lesbian, said she is against the gay community’s lack of respect for religious people’s values. As a former Orthodox Jew and daughter of a rabbi, Feldblum said she understands being religious means engaging in certain conducts.
“My sense of being religious completely intertwined with conduct that I did as a religious Jew,” she said. “If someone had told me that I could be a religiously firm Jew but I couldn’t engage in certain conduct or I had to engage in certain conduct – like I had to turn on the light on Shabbos (weekly Sabbath or day of rest in Judaism) – ‘What is the big deal you are just turning on the light on Shabbos?’
“Ok, let me tell you for a firm Jew if you do not turn on the light for Shabbos. That’s a sin,” she said. “Nor do you facilitate someone else who is Jewish to turn on the light. That’s a sin.”
As a result of her own former religious background, Feldblum said she “can’t stand” those in the gay community that say people of faith should “just get over it” when it comes to performing a legal action that goes against their values, such as a county clerk who believes homosexuality is a sin making a marriage license for a gay couple. Continue >>
Comments
James 4:4 "Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy."
Now here is the site i came across doing research not to long back. Here is the link that some have been asking on the movie being made on the lie of David's and Johnathan's homosexual relationship. You see there are 'church's' that believe such blasphemy that its hard to comprehend, but its all to justify themselves. Read the whole page but start where the link takes you. Its a satanic church. They preach a false Gospel and lead many to damnation. Its my 'Job' if you will my Gift of the Spirit and my Ministry given unto me by God to expose all those who lead others astray, to stand against them, and yes Debate them. And Jesus did 'whoop' on them in yahoo and many other sites!
http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Resources&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2122#Pt3
this is the metropolitan 'church'
1Corinthians 3:16 Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you!
1Co 3:17 God will destroy anyone who destroys God's temple. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are his temple.
1Co 3:18 You should not fool yourself. If any of you think that you are wise by this world's standards, you should become a fool, in order to be really wise.
1Co 3:19 For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in God's sight. As the scripture says, "God traps the wise in their cleverness";
1Co 3:20 and another scripture says, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless."
ifeelfine,
I sure wish you'd stop stepping on my first amendment. If I want to say that I think you are not a Christian because of your fruits (or lack thereof) then it is within my right to voice my opinion. And if you don't like my opinion, you have the right to voice yours...or leave.
As I've said before. This is a message board. What I present here, and how I do it, is nothing like I do in real life. CP is a place for me to speak what is truly on my mind. In real life I am extremely diplomatic with people, but they still know where I stand in my convictions.
Prophet - in the 'Exodus' thread igh was talking about 'whooping' people with the Bible in arguements on Yahoo. I believe he answered your concern with his fruits.
prophet: here we go again. Our hermeneutics are different. Eventually God will tell each of us who is right - until then, keep who you think is or is not a Christian to yourself . . . unless you're commenting on your own spiritual life. As for me, I know where I stand! God bless and have a good weekend.
Daniel,
I don't think the Pharisees were as humble as you would believe. The way Jesus talked to, and about, them would lead me to believe they were prideful. He talks about how they love the best seats at the dinner table, and how they stand in public giving loud prayers, and how they put a yoke of bondage upon the people. That doesn't sound too humble to me.
Daniel Paul,
I think you are assigning motivation to an action, when you do not know the motivation.
It is appropriate to quote scripture when it applies to a comment or article, even if you quote a lot of it.
The thing you seem to be saying is that igh is only doing it to make himself look good. Is that why YOU present whatever point you present? I doubt it. From what I see of igh's posts, it does not appear to me to be his/her motivation either.
I would prever to see him quote from online site that does not put the chapter:verse infront of each line, and shows the text as a paragraph, as it makes it easier to read that way (like http://www.biblegateway.com). I would prefer him to have some comment and maybe just give the book:chapter:verse as support, with only occasionally quoting the scripture. But I know for a fact that what Scripture says on the matter is MUCH more important than what I have to say on it.
I don't think you understand the motivation behind igh's posting scripture and so you assume it is done to make him look good. I dont see it that way.
Matthew 23:5 "But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments"
phylacteries - small boxes containing Scripture texts worn for religious purposes
1Co 3:16 Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you!
1Co 3:17 God will destroy anyone who destroys God's temple. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are his temple.
1Co 3:18 You should not fool yourself. If any of you think that you are wise by this world's standards, you should become a fool, in order to be really wise.
1Co 3:19 For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in God's sight. As the scripture says, "God traps the wise in their cleverness";
1Co 3:20 and another scripture says, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless."
Milford...from what I know of law and the legal process you are correct. The ruling says same-sex marriage is not illegal. Those who do not understand the legal process do not understand that 'not illegal' does not mean it is legal. As crazy as it sounds that's the way it works. No wonder our courts are so messed up!
I ask everyone who reads these posts to keep from perpetuating half-truths. The California Supreme Court's ruling on same sex marriage does NOT equate to "legal" or law. The legislature passes laws as authorized by California's constitution, and until the California legislature passes the law, the same sex marriage is technically not "legal". When we start writing that same sex marriage is legal in CA or MA, we perpetuate an inaccuracy; soon, it is taken for granted and becomes an accepted 'fact' even though it is false.
If I am incorrect on the legal aspect, let me know.
Hello my friend,
I am doing well, thank God. How have you been? Someone has apparently been deleting all of your comments; much prayer. I look forward to receiving your email this week, have a blessed day.
Hey Online!
How's it going? I haven't heard from you in a while. Yeah, yeah, I know I haven't emailed you. I'll do that this week. I hope you are doing well.
Christians appeal to the Word of God as the standard for their faith and practice; we cannot speak contrary to what God has spoken. Marriage is ONLY between a man and a woman in God�s eyes.
Prophet, yeah, aren't they? I know the author.
wbmoore,
Amen. Nice scripture.